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[p. 53] Of the significance of such a title I have failed to learn, but such was the name given to the ship-yard bell that, placed on the building of James O. Curtis, was rung at the hours of labor's commencing and close, in the days when times were busy along the Mystic river.
When the ship-building business declined, the bell was disused, and for years remained silent.
But, in 1877, the town built a schoolhouse near Malden line, which was called the Curtis school, and Mr. Curtis donated to it the shipyard bell.
It hangs in an iron yoke, with a solid wheel of wood for the bell-rope.
The tongue of this bell is somewhat peculiar, in that it swings in all directions.
This is a small bell, 14 inches high and 19 inches diameter.
An ornamental design encircles its crown, and above it is the inscription, ‘Cast by G. L. Hanks, Cincinnati, Ohio.’
No mark of weight, tone, or date is discernible upon it, and its weight is probably less than 200 lbs. At present it is, and for many years it has been, the only school bell in Medford.

The other bell referred to was the depot bell.
Installed, at the opening of the Medford Branch railroad, at first on a little platform at the end of the roof-ridge, it was later housed in a cupola.
The old-time style of ringing was similar to that of church bells—ten or fifteen minutes before the departure of trains, the first bell; the second bell was for about three minutes, in regular strokes, ending at the scheduled time.
This ringing was a convenience to the regular patrons of the road, but there were always late arrivals, and sometimes some—too late. After some forty years of service this bell became cracked and was removed to the railroad ‘graveyard,’ and none other ever replaced it.

The year 1854 saw the opening of Tufts College.
Its first building was Ballou Hall, and upon its roof was placed the college bell, cast by G. H. Holbrook at East Medway, Mass., in 1857.
The father of this foundry man learned his trade of Paul Revere.
If this old bell could talk it might tell many strange stories of the pranks of

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